2026 Election Schedule
Early Voting
Early voting allows registered voters to go in person to their county board of elections office or early voting sites to cast a ballot. Early voting is conducted starting on the third Thursday before the election and ends at 3:00 pm on the last Saturday before the election. A reason for voting early is not required. A registered voter may vote at any early voting location regardless of their place of residence within the county.
2026 Election Schedule from the NCBOE:
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Sept. 4: Absentee ballots must be available and distributed to military and overseas voters
- For more, see Vote by Mail https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail
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Oct. 9: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)
- For more, see How to Register https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register
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Oct. 15: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available
- For more, see Vote Early in Person https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register
- Oct. 20: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.)
- Oct. 31: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.)
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Nov. 3: Election Day
- For more, see Vote in Person on Election Day https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-person-election-day
- Nov. 3: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.)
Dates and Times
- Thursday - Friday, October 15 - 16, 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Monday - Friday, October 19 - 23, 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Monday - Friday, October 26 - 30, 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.